Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 111
Sewickley budget approved, no tax hike
Sewickley officials held the line on real estate taxes in their $9 million 2021 budget. Council voted 6-3 in December to pass the 2021 spending plan, which maintains the millage rate at 6.25 mills. Voting for the budget were vice president Todd Renner, Sean Figley, Julie Barnes, Ed Green, Cynthia...
Pittsburgh police investigating hit-and-run pedestrian crash
Pittsburgh police are investigating the hit-and-run of a pedestrian in the city’s Oakland neighborhood. Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said a man told police that he had been a victim of a hit-and-run incident while walking near the intersection of Craft and Forbes avenues shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday. He...
Santa Claus coming to Plum neighborhoods this weekend via fire trucks
It appears Santa Claus will make an early trip to Plum this month even after its holiday celebration was canceled. Borough officials canceled Christmas at Plum Creek this month due to the pandemic, increased covid restrictions on gatherings and vendors withdrawing as a result. However, Plum’s four fire departments have...
Plum public works department ready for snow
Plum public works crews have been moving salt in the shed and checking equipment in preparation for snowfall such as what hit the area Wednesday. “We’re ready,” borough buildings and grounds supervisor Joe Fischetti said Tuesday evening. “Trucks are loaded. Plows are on.” Trucks are routinely inspected to help prevent...
Snow day! Plum School District closed Thursday due to weather, playing in snow encouraged
Plum School District will be closed Thursday due to Wednesday’s heavy snowfall. A message from Superintendent Brendan Hyland about the snow day was posted on the district’s twitter page and newsfeed. The closure was in large part a result of Wednesday’s snow storms. “Students are directed to close their Chromebooks,...
Body found in Allegheny River in Shaler identified
Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified a body that was recovered from the Allegheny River on Wednesday morning. Officials said it was David Lesser, 54, of Shaler. Allegheny County homicide detectives were notified shortly before 8:30 a.m. of a body in the river near Pine Creek. Lt. Venerando Costa...
Pittsburgh man accused in Nov. 10 homicide remains at large
Pittsburgh police continue to search for a manaccused of killing an East Liberty woman last month. Terrence Washington, 36, of Pittsburgh is wanted on charges of criminal homicide and firearms violations in connection with the Nov. 10 killing of Makeida Thompson. Police responded to a home along the 5700 block...
Penn Hills school board has a new member
Penn Hills school board has selected a retired state auditor as its newest member. Joseph Capozoli was appointed to the board and sworn in at Tuesday night’s meeting. He was selected out of four candidates and appointed by a 6-2 vote. Board members Elizabeth Rosemeyer and Meryl Thomas voted for...
Gill Hall VFC remains idle as Jefferson Hills officials again postpone recertification
A volunteer fire company in Jefferson Hills has not responded to emergency calls for nearly two years. It may be another year or so until it does as council once again failed to recertify Gill Hall nor did it formally recognize Gill Hall and Jefferson Hills Fire Rescue as the...
Jefferson Hills officials adopt 2021 budget, no tax hike
Jefferson Hills property owners will not have to worry about their real estate taxes going up as a result of the borough’s 2021 budget. Council unanimously voted Monday night to approve next year’s spending plan and maintain the current tax rate of 5.66 mills. Council vice president Dave Montgomery said...
West Jefferson Hills School District to go virtual through Wednesday because of covid cases
West Jefferson Hills School District officials announced all students will learn online the next few days as a result of six positive cases reported Saturday. Classes will be virtual through at least Wednesday. A letter sent to parents over the weekend says the cases spread over four buildings and puts...
South Fayette to honor veterans with military banners next year
South Fayette officials plan to honor veterans from the township by hanging military banners next year. Community development coordinator Andrea Iglar discussed the idea during this month’s commissioners meeting. The presentation is available on the township’s website. “We look forward to being able to recognize the men and women who...
South Fayette budget adopted with no tax increase, EMS funding approved
South Fayette Township property owners will not have to worry about a real estate tax hike as part of next year’s municipal budget. Commissioners unanimously adopted their 2021 spending plan Wednesday. It maintains the millage rate at 4.73 mills, the same as the past few years. Projected revenue and expenditures...
Restaurants along Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell run the gamut of compliance with pandemic restrictions
For business owners like John Clark of Clark’s Diner in Lower Burrell, the new covid mitigation efforts instituted by Gov. Tom Wolf are as much of a threat to his workers’ livelihood as the virus itself. As a result, he’s ignoring them and allowing indoor dining to continue — in...
Police: at least 3 people shot outside Monaca bar early Saturday morning
At least three people were shot outside of a bar in Monaca early Saturday morning. Borough police said they responded to the shooting incident just after midnight outside of Whiskey Rhythm Bar along the 1200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue. Information about the victims, including their conditions, was not released. Anyone...
Lower Burrell family keeps Italian nativity scene tradition alive, new pieces added yearlyVideo
An Italian Christmas tradition encompassing a couple generations continues in a Lower Burrell household. For at least six weeks out of the year, retired cabinet maker Pat Pesce shows off the family’s presepe, or nativity scene. It has grown from a small manger set that could fit on a coffee...
Plum Municipal Authority water, sewage rates going up next year
Plum homeowners should not expect to see their real estate tax rates go up next year, but their water and sewage bills will increase slightly. Letters were to be sent out this month to Plum Borough Municipal Authority customers informing them of the rate hike, which will be reflected in...
Sewickley woman makes pandemic masks for charity
A Sewickley woman has used her sewing talents to keep people safe and raise more than $12,000 for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden. It all started in March when covid-19 cases reached pandemic proportions and a friend asked Cheryl Redmond to make masks for area nurses. “It’s really...
Pittsburgh police: Man in stable condition after being shot in Arlington neighborhood
A man was hospitalized in stable condition after being shot in the stomach in Pittsburgh’s Arlington neighborhood Thursday. Public Safety spokesman Maurice Matthews said city police responded to a ShotSpotter alert and 911 call for a shooting around 6:10 p.m. along the 200 block of Rothman Street. Officers located the...
Plum High School toy drive going drive-thru, no students this year
Plum High School’s sixth annual Stuff-a-Bus toy drive will be in a different format this year due to the covid-19 pandemic. The event is still set for 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday in the high school parking lot at 900 Elicker Road. However, there will be no hot chocolate...
SouthBridge EMS asks Bridgeville, Cecil and South Fayette townships for financial help
SouthBridge EMS, the ambulance service provider for Cecil and South Fayette townships and Bridgeville, is in some financial distress due covid-19. Executive Director Daniel Miller said patient transports dropped by 40% in March and April. Calls also went from an average of 230 per month to about 150, and transportation...
Penn Hills school board retains its current president, appoints new vice president
Erin Vecchio and Jackie Blakey-Tate were named Penn Hills school board president and vice president, respectively. The board unanimously voted at its Nov. 1 reorganization meeting to keep Vecchio in her leadership role for the fifth straight year. She is in her fifth nonconsecutive term on the board. She was...
Serra Catholic High School to resume in-person classes, athletics suspended
Serra Catholic High School in McKeesport will resume in-person instruction on Wednesday, according to Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh officials. However, all athletic and extracurricular activities are suspended due to possible covid-19 exposure. Spokesman Bob DeWitt said the school has also taken other student action out of an abundance of caution....
Plum School Board maintains current president, vice president
Mike Devine and Michael Caliguiri will remain Plum School Board president and vice president, respectively. The board voted to keep both men in the top leadership roles at its Dec. 1 reorganization meeting. Devine was reappointed by a 5-4 vote while Caliguiri received unanimous support. “I’m happy that the majority...
Quaker Valley School Board appoints new president, vice president
Quaker Valley School District has a school board new president and vice president. Jonathan Kuzma and Marna Blackmer were unanimously appointed to the board’s top two leadership positions at the Dec. 1 reorganization meeting, respectively. Kuzma is in his second four-year term on the board and served this year as...
